Debating in Schools

Debating can be a daunting prospect for people who have never participated in a debate before. It should not be!

In this section, the key terms of debating are introduced. As with anything, jargon can be off-putting but debating terms are simple and easy to understand. The key terms are listed below. There are also other terms that you may come across from time to time in debating but are not essential when introducing debate to a class.

Term Definition House The room in which a debate takes place is referred to as the House, and whilst a speaker is speaking they ‘have the floor’. The House is also the term used to describe the people in the room at the time of the debate, ie the other debaters, audience members, judges and timekeepers. Motion The motion is the topic or subject that is being debated. Motions traditionally begin with the phrase ‘This House would…’ or ‘This House believes’. Motions should be of interest to the audience and for the speakers. They can be directly related to something being discussed in class or, if at an after-school club, can be about a current affairs issue, a school issue or any other interesting and challenging topic. An example of a motion is ‘This house would ban school uniform’. (See Useful motions). Proposition The proposition is the name for the team or teams proposing a motion. This means that they are in favour of the motion. So in the example given above, the proposition team or teams would be arguing in favour of banning school uniform. Their role in the debate would be to persuade the audience and judges that the motion is correct. They should provide information, arguments and evidence to support their case. Opposition The opposition is the name for the team or teams opposing the motion. Their task is to provide arguments against the motion to counter the proposition’s case. In the example above, the opposition team would be in favour of keeping school uniform. Points of Information A Point of Information...

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The first speaker of the negating team said that….
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Also said that…
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...Debating
Names of students working on this task: Jennifer Nguyen, Andy Nguyen 7E
What is a debate?
Save this document in your U drive RIGHT NOW.
Read the instructions below and complete them in the numbered ORDER.
1. Look up the word 'Debate' in your dictionary; write down the definition below in a different colour and font: A discussion; a formal argument; controversy; an organised contest in which point of views are argued.
1. Now write the definition in your own words below in a different colour and font:
A debate is like a competition in which they presents arguments and adds rebuttals to the topic.
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| Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
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...﻿
School Safety
Jake Kristiansen
Senior Committee
Senior Project
13 December 2013
Over the years, the United States has encountered numerous amounts of schools shootings. With every attack that has occurred, how have we failed to stop them? In the future, parents of the students must allow them to enter schools and feel confident that they will be safe. We have the technology and time to emplace tactics that can prevent any type of school shooting, we just need to initiate them. Studying the past shootings and figuring out what went down and how to prevent it is the key. Over the years, most schools in the United States have failed to install safety devices to protect students from harm. Even though, shootings still occur in schools that have well developed plans “If you build a 10-foot fence” the expression goes, “someone is going to find an 11-foot ladder” (Kelly). However, even if a plan may not save every life, if it protects just one more, it has done its job. That is why in order for schools to increase safety for students and teachers, they must study past events, develop a specific plan for safety and train responders and staff on what to do when school shooting occurs. and train for the future.
The most recognized school shooting in the last twenty years happened in Columbine Colorado during the year of 1999....